5-HTP Honest Information
by Ray Sahelian, M.D.,
best selling author of 5-HTP: Nature's Serotonin Solution,
Mind Boosters, and formulator of Mind Power Rx
 

5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan or 5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan) is a natural supplement that converts in the brain into serotonin. Serotonin is an important brain chemical involved in mood, behavior, appetite, and sleep. Serotonin is also involved in impulse control. For instance, low serotonin levels may lead to addictive behavior such as gambling or other habits caused by weak will power. Serotonin is known as 5-HT, or 5-hydroxytryptamine, and is found in many places in the body particularly the brain, gastrointestinal system, and blood cells.
     5-HTP has been helpful for some people, but the effects are not consistent in everyone who uses it. Some people are deficient in serotonin and hence 5-HTP may be helpful to them whereas other people may have depression, anxiety, and other symptoms that may appear to be due to serotonin deficiency in the brain, but may actually be from other causes. There's really no easy way -- for instance blood studies in a doctor's office -- to tell whether someone is deficient in serotonin, and if they are, whether 5-HTP would help them. In addition to 5-HTP, other nutrients and herbs that have an influence on stress or anxiety include ashwagandha, passion flower, tryptophan, kava, and valerian. See the link below in blue for more info. Mind Power Rx is a formula that helps balance mood and provides mental clarity.


5-HTP 50 mg - 60 Capsules
Physician Formulas -
Formulated by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

5-HTP Supplement facts

Amount Per Capsule:
5-HTP - 50 mg
Vitamin C - 30 mg
Vitamin E - 10 iu

Vitamin C and Vitamin E added as antioxidants

Suggested use: 5-HTP dosage: Take one 5-HTP 50 mg in the evening on an empty stomach at least a half hour before dinner, or an hour or two before bed, or as recommended by your health care provider. Some people find 5-HTP is more helpful for them if they take it earlier in the day. Each person is unique in their response and the ideal timing. 5-HTP is best absorbed on an empty stomach.

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Twice a month we Email you a brief abstract of several new studies on various supplements and natural medicine topics and their practical interpretation by Ray Sahelian, M.D. We mention research updates on 5-HTP. Click the above blue link.

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Click 5-HTP above in blue for more information, or to purchase

A message regarding the safe use of 5-HTP
5-HTP was introduced to the over the counter market in 1994. Our understanding of 5-HTP's clinical role and its safety is still fuzzy. We don't know as much as we should about the effects of chronic 5-HTP use. Therefore, until we learn more, the idea is to take 5-HTP in the minimum effective dosage and to avoid its prolonged use. I tell my patients who use 5-HTP to take frequent breaks (the frequency and length of breaks varies since each person is unique). During these breaks, other forms of therapy could be substituted. As of now, and after years of 5-HTP sold to the public, I am not aware of any reports in the medical literature of anyone who has encountered life threatening or other serious side effects from the use of 5-HTP. It's best to be cautious, limit use to 50 mg or at most 100 mg a day, and take breaks.

5-HTP Dosage
Some studies have used dosages of 300 mg a day for depression, but I consider any 5-HTP dose above 50 mg to 100 mg a high dose. Most 5-HTP products on the market are sold in 50 and 100 mg capsules. Some people do well with 20 to 50 mg, while others may temporarily require 100 mg or more. I'm not aware of 5-HTP products on the market that are less than 50 mg. Those who do well with small doses can open a capsule and take a portion mixed with water. 5-HTP is best absorbed on an empty stomach, or some users have tried taking a smaller amount of 5-HTP sublingually, that is under the tongue. Medical supervision is recommended if high doses of 5-HTP are required to treat a particular condition. I don't recommend the routine use of daily intake doses greater than 100 mg since there's the possibility of nausea or nightmares. Also, we still don't know if there are any long term side effects if people take high doses for many years. 5-HTP enhances dreams and makes them more vivid.

Safety of 5-HTP-- as discussed in the April 2004 issue of Toxicology Letters
5-Hydroxy-L-tryptophan (5-HTP) is the immediate precursor in the biosynthesis of 5-hydroxy-tryptamine (5-HT; serotonin) from the essential amino acid L-tryptophan. The use of L-Tryptophan as a dietary supplement was discontinued in 1989 due to an outbreak of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS) that was traced to a contaminated synthetic L-Tryptophan from a single manufacturer. 5-HTP has since become a popular dietary supplement in lieu of the removal of L-Tryptophan from the market. Because of its chemical and biochemical relationship to L-Tryptophan, 5-HTP has been under vigilance by consumers, industry, academia and government for its safety. However, no definitive cases of toxicity have emerged despite the worldwide usage of 5-HTP for the last 20 years, with the possible exception of one unresolved case of a Canadian woman. Extensive analyses of several sources of 5-HTP have shown no toxic contaminants similar to those associated with L-Tryptophan, nor the presence of any other significant impurities. A minor chromatographic peak (peak X) reported in some 5-HTP samples lacks credibility due to chromatographic artifacts and infinitesimal concentrations, and has raised undue speculations concerning its chemistry and toxicity.
Das YT, Bagchi M, Bagchi D, Preuss HG. Safety of 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan. Toxicol Lett. 2004 Apr 15;150(1):111-22. ISSI Laboratories Inc., 515 Blue Ridge Avenue, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.

Biochemistry of 5-HTP
The figure below shows tryptophan converting into 5-HTP, which then readily converts into serotonin. Once serotonin is made, the pineal gland is able to convert it at night into melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone. Vitamin B6 is involved in the process of serotonin formation.

Tryptophan, 5-HTP, and melatonin are available for sale as supplements.

*Note: Tryptophan is also metabolized on a different pathway, not all of it is converted into 5-HTP.

Figure 13.2 from the book Mind Boosters: Conversion of Tryptophan into 5-HTP, Serotonin and Melatonin.

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Short term 5-HTP side effects
6-HTP side effects from high doses (which could be 70 to 100 mg and greater) include nausea and vomiting, stomach cramps, nightmares, and decreased sex drive. Serotonin has an inhibitory effect on sexual behavior. Tiredness and sleepiness can occur after several days or weeks of use, which may indicate that a break should be taken from 5-HTP use. For those who experience nightmares or other side effects such as nausea or decreased libido, you may consider taking a lower dose. Here's a report from one user, "Hi, great website. I am writing because I just yesterday took a 100 mg. 5-htp. I feel awful for the most part. I am usually sensitive to any side effects, and I just feel the stomach discomfort and fullness and then feel kind of disoriented and weird."
     Nightmares sometimes decrease after the first few nights.

Long term 5-HTP side effects
Long term side effects with 5-HTP are not fully known. When hundreds of thousands of people start taking a supplement that has not had adequate long-term testing, there may be some individuals who have a biochemical abnormality in metabolizing that nutrient that was previously not known. We don't know the consequences on the immune system, skin, and other tissues of long-term 5-HTP therapy. Regular long term use is not recommended at this time.
     At this point of our knowledge with 5-HTP, it would be best not to use it while trying to become pregnant or during pregnancy. The safety of 5-HTP during lactation and breast feeding is not known.

5-HTP Source and manufacture
5-HTP is made in the body from the amino acid tryptophan. Most of the 5-HTP produced in the body comes from its manufacture in the intestines from tryptophan. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid; that is, the body does not have the capacity to synthesize it. All the supply of tryptophan must be gotten through foods that contain protein.
      5-HTP sold over the counter is extracted from the Griffonia seed. The seeds come from an African tree grown mostly in Ghana and the Ivory Coast. 5-HTP can also be made synthetically in the laboratory. The final product is the same as the one made by the body. Only a small (3 to 7) percent of the griffonia seed is made of 5-HTP, therefore, consuming griffonia seeds is not an efficient way of getting 5-HTP. 5-HTP is not made from fermentation of bacteria.

5-HTP Interactions
The use of 5-HTP in combination with SSRIs such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, and others has not been formally evaluated. Anecdotal reports indicate that many people tolerate small amount of 5-HTP, 50 mg or less, with small amounts of SSRIs when used under the guidance of a medical professional. The effects of taking 5-HTP along with a pharmaceutical antidepressant are sometimes difficult to predict. Since the SSRIs, like Prozac, block serotonin reuptake, and 5-HTP converts into serotonin, it is possible that dangerously high levels of serotonin could occur, a condition called serotonin syndrome.
     It is difficult to predict the interaction of 5-HTP with lithium, MAO inhibitors, anti-anxiety agents, beta blockers, birth control pills, and other pharmaceutical medicines.
     Some physicians are using a combination of two or more natural antidepressants such as 5-HTP, St. John's wort, SAM-e, and others. However the interactions are not fully known and caution is advised. Any such combination should be done under medical supervision.

Timing and Dosage of 5-HTP
It's difficult to say what the best time to take 5-HTP since it varies among individuals. It depends whether 5-HTP is being used for sleep, in that case it is taken in the evening; for anxiety or low mood, 5-HTP can be taken any time of day; or weight loss, in which case it is taken on an empty stomach an hour or two before a meal.
     If you do take 5-HTP during the day, it's best to take no more than 25 mg since it could cause sleepiness. 5-HTP is absorbed better taken on an empty stomach.
     There is has not been enough research done with 5-HTP to know the ideal dosages and timing. Also, there is significant individual variability to the response to 5-HTP. Hence, each person may need to find out for him or herself the lowest dose that works well, and the ideal timing, whether early in the day, midday or evening.
     A small amount of alcohol usually does not interfere with 5-HTP, but larger amounts may.

5-HTP Properties -- Appetite, Sleep, Mood, Stress
Some people who take 5-HTP notice better mood balance, decrease in appetite, reduced anxiety, better impulse control, and better sleep. I have come across some individuals who find themselves more alert rather than in a relaxed, sleepy state of mind with 5-HTP.
     Some find that 5-HTP helps curb appetite. This nutrient could be used temporarily for appetite suppression while other lifestyle and dietary changes are being incorporated regarding a life long plan for keeping weight off. Not everyone notices the appetite suppressing effect from 5-HTP. A study in rodents indicates that 5-HTP may be useful in controlling the excessive food intake sometimes generated by stress.
     5-HTP may be temporarily helpful in conditions that normally require prescription antidepressants, anti-anxiety agents, sleeping pills, and weight loss drugs. 5-HTP may also be helpful in some individuals with migraine headaches and fibromyalgia.
     5-HTP reduces the severity of a panic attack which may indicate that panic attacks may partly be due to low serotonin levels.

5-HTP or Prozac? 5 HTP depression
The choice of whether to take natural supplements for depression or pharmaceutical medicines is a personal one along with a consultation with a health care professional. There are quite a number of factors, too many to list, that have to be considered. Those with mild depression may wish to try natural antidepressants first whereas those with moderate to severe depression would likely need a strong pharmaceutical medicine. Some other nutrients to consider include SAM-e and St. John's wort.
     Prozac and other SSRIs have been tested more thoroughly than natural antidepressants. 5-HTP is trickier to use, tolerance may develop, long-term safety not known as well, but works well for some people in improving mood, reducing appetite, and improving sleep. It's very difficult, if not nearly impossible, to predict how each person will react or respond to a medicine or nutrient. Sometimes the best method is trial and error.

To B6 or not to B6?
The potential benefit from taking vitamin B6 along with 5-HTP is that B6 could help 5-HTP be converted into serotonin more efficiently. This is good when it's done in the brain where we want more serotonin, but we also want to minimize the conversion of 5-HTP to serotonin in the bloodstream. For the time being, I prefer to use a 5-HTP product without B6 added, but this issue is complicated and I don't have all the answers.

Carbidopa and 5-HTP
There's a pharmaceutical medicine called carbidopa which blocks the metabolism of 5-HTP in the blood stream allowing for more to be present in the body. The question as to whether it is preferable to take carbidopa along with 5-HTP is not clear at this time but could be considered under medical supervision. Taking carbidopa would most likely reduce the dosage required for 5-HTP since less 5-HTP would be broken down in the bloodstream and more would be available to enter the brain.

5-HTP and Peak X
Dr. Andrew Stoll, at Harvard Medical School in Boston reports that there may be a handful of cases of EMS worldwide from the use of 5-HTP. He recommends users contact the manufacturer of their product to make sure that the product does not contain Peak X.
     I am not aware of a recent independent laboratory testing of 5-HTP products to know whether or not they contain Peak X. As a consumer, you do have the option to contact a company that sells 5-HTP and ask them if they have tested for Peak X.

5-HTP Research update
Pyridoxine, regardless of serotonin levels, increases production of 5-hydroxytryptophan in rat brain.
Arch Med Res. 2004 Jul-Aug;35(4):271-4.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of pyridoxine and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) on lipid peroxidation and on levels of 5-hydroxytryptophan and serotonin. METHODS: Thirty rats (30 days of age) were used in the survey, measuring levels of lipid peroxidation (TBARS), hemoglobin, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP or l 5-htp), and serotonin (5-HT) after intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of 4 and 10 mg/kg/day of pyridoxine HCl during 20 days and a single dose of 2 microM/kg (440 microg) of BHT. RESULTS: Levels of TBARS and 5-HTP increased considerably (p <0.05) in all vitamin- and/or BHT-treated groups, and 5-HT increased partially (p <0.05) only in B(6) with or without BHT-treated groups compared with control group. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that pyridoxine plays a role in tryptophan metabolism, increasing production of 5-HTP.

5-HTP is a more potent in vitro hydroxyl radical scavenger than melatonin or vitamin C.
J Pineal Res. 2005 Jan;38(1):62-6.
Hydroxyl radicals are involved in direct damage of important biomolecules. Potent radical scavengers such as vitamin C and indoles of the tryptophan family can avert the potential damage. Melatonin and its precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan ( 5-HTP ) were compared with water-soluble vitamin C.  5-HTP showed highest hydroxyl radical scavenging effects, more than vitamin C, which was more than melatonin.

5-HTP Prevents Panic Attacks -- A panic attack involves the sudden appearance of several symptoms including shortness of breath, sweating or shaking, palpitations, and the fear of dying or losing control. Women are more likely than men to have this condition. Doctors often prescribe anti-anxiety medicines such as Xanax or Valium. However, a nutrient known as 5-HTP may play an important role. 5-HTP stands for 5-Hydroxytryptophan, a supplement available over the counter that, when ingested, goes to the brain and converts into the brain chemical serotonin. Serotonin is known to induce relaxation and balance mood. Researchers at the Department of Neuropsychology at Maastricht University in The Netherlands were able to induce a panic attack in volunteers who suffer from panic disorder by having them breathe a high concentration of carbon dioxide. They repeated the study, this time giving half of the volunteers 200-mg of 5-HTP while the others received a placebo. Those who took 5-HTP had a significantly diminished panic response compared to those on placebo.
     Dr. Sahelian says: 5-HTP is available in health food stores in a dosage of 50 mg. The results of this study are quite interesting and indicate that those with panic attacks may not have adequate levels of serotonin. If you suffer from frequent panic attacks, it would be worthwhile to discuss the findings of this 5-HTP study with your physician.

The effect of 5-hydroxytryptophan on cholecystokinin-4-induced panic attacks in healthy volunteers.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Tartu, Raja, Estonia.
J Psychopharmacol. 2004 Jun;18(2):194-9.
Previous studies suggest a modulatory role of serotonin in experimentally-induced panic attacks. In the current study, we investigated the acute effects of 5-HT precursor l-5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) on the response to panicogenic challenge with cholecystokinin-tetrapeptide (CCK-4) in healthy volunteers. Thirty-two subjects were randomized to receive either 200 mg of 5-HTP or placebo with the CCK-4 challenge following in 90 min in a double-blind, parallel-group design. The results showed a nonsignificant difference between the groups in panic rate (19% after 5-HTP and 44% after placebo, p = 0.13) with a trend for lower intensity of symptoms after 5-HTP (p = 0.08). Further analysis by gender revealed that females in the 5-HTP group had a significantly lower panic rate and intensity of cognitive symptoms whereas, in males, the effect of 5-HTP was limited to lowering the intensity of somatic panic symptoms. Thus, an increased availability of 5-HT may have a gender-dependent protective effect in CCK-4-induced panic.

Single-dose administration of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is regularly used as a challenge test of the serotonergic system. The use of 5-HTP has been limited by an apparent small window between the occurrence of neuroendocrine endpoints and the occurrence of side effects. Therefore, many dosing strategies have been tried with and without concurrent administration of carbidopa, a peripheral inhibitor of the decarboxylation from 5-HTP to serotonin. The aim of the current study was to assess the relation between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of 5-HTP. Twelve healthy male volunteers were included in a placebo-controlled, randomized, four-way crossover, double-blind, single-dose investigation of oral 5-HTP with or without coadministration of carbidopa. The four dose regimens were placebo, 5-HTP 100 mg, 5-HTP 200 mg, and 5-HTP 100 mg with coadministration of carbidopa 100 mg and 50 mg at 3 hours before and 3 hours after the administration of 5-HTP, respectively. The last regimen resulted in a doubling of the elimination half-life, an apparent clearance at least 14 times smaller, and a 15.4 times greater area under the curve compared with 5-HTP 100 mg without carbidopa. Furthermore, it was the only regimen to induce a significant change in cortisol and prolactin. It did not induce any change in subjective psychologic symptoms or cardiovascular parameters, but it was the only regimen to induce some nausea in three participants. The authors conclude that this regimen of 5-HTP 100 mg plus carbidopa is a relatively simple, effective, and tolerable challenge of the presynaptic serotonergic system.

Emails from 5-HTP users
I received your 5-HTP and love it. I also appreciate that your cost relieves me from paying $23.00 for a 50 cap bottle.

Q. I HAVE BEEN TAKING 5- HTP FOR ABOUT ONE MONTH, AND I FEEL GREAT, SO FAR. MY QUESTION IS, HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOUR SEX LIFE?
     A. 5-HTP converts into serotonin which is known to decrease sexual interest or sensation.

Q. Do you know of any other herbs or natural substances besides 5-htp than can delay orgasm?
     A. Perhaps kava or tryptophan may be helpful in this regard.

Q. You mention taking breaks from use of 5-HTP. Is this because of 6-htp side effects? How long should these breaks be?
     A. Each person is different and we are not in a position to say since the length of a break and frequency of breaks would be different for each individual depending on many factors including severity of medical condition, age, use of other supplements, use of medicines, concurrent medical conditions, weight, prior use of medicines, etc. Anyone planning the use of 5-HTP for prolonged periods should be supervised by a health care practitioner.

Q. I am currently taking 150 mg of 5-HTP daily for depression, anxiety and OCD. I know that you recommend taking breaks in taking 5-HTP, but how long should I take 5-HTP before I take a "break" and how long should the "break" be before resuming the 5-HTP again? I absolutely love "5-HTP"! In the past, I have been on Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor and Lexapro before finally deciding to take the "natural route" and am happy that I did.
A. Each person is unique in how they respond to 5-HTP, including dosage, frequency of use, and length of breaks. We are not in a position to make individual recommendations but suggest you have a discussion with your health care practitioner.

Q. I've been experimenting with 5-htp for a few weeks now, due to chronic sleeplessness and overall high anxiety levels. It's been great-- I'm sleeping full nights and am much less anxious. But my eyes are tearing incessantly, my skin feels like it's got pricklepears, mildly itchy, and I'm feeling generally wan and run down, even if I just take a little of 5-HTP, even 50 mgs a day (which is not enough to let me sleep). Have you ever heard of this sort of a reaction to 5-HTP in your years of study?
A. We have not heard of this reaction before to 5-HTP, but since long term studies are not available, we need to consider that potentially 5-HTP is involved. If the symptoms go away by stopping the 5-HTP and reoccur by restarting, then that would confirm that in your case 5-HTP was responsible.

Over the past 4 years I have been doing my best to battle recurring bouts of depression that have plagued me for a decent portion of my life. Doctors and specialists prescribed just about every SSRI available on the market, in addition to one MAOI. Each was received with varying side effects that at times seemed worse than the depression itself! I decided it would be best for me to conduct some research of my own in an attempt to find an alternative solution besides doctor prescribed drugs. To my horror, one of my first discoveries was that Canadian doctors were often paid "incentive bonuses" by pharmaceutical companies for the majority of SSRI's prescribed to people like me! Tryptophan was never even mentioned or discussed probably due to the fact that it can't be patented as is mentioned in your 5-HTP book which was published 6 years ago. 5-htp has done wonders for me in the past 3 weeks and I plan on continuing its use with occasional breaks as recommended in your book. Thanks once again for writing a fantastic book on "Nature's Serotonin Solution" and keep up the excellent non-jargoned writing for people like myself. You explained everything clearly and impressively from both a first and second hand perspective.

Q. I have been taking 100 mg of 5-htp (before bedtime) for about 3 years now and it has helped my depression. I am sleepy in the morning but I also take cyclobenzaprene 10 mg at night for my back. I have noticed that I have a high pulse rate usually between 90 and 115. I'm not sure if the 5-htp is the cause. Can a person just stop taking 5-htp or do they have to wean themselves off?
A. It's hard to say. Each person is different in how they would respond. With most medicines taken for a long period, it probably is a good idea to lower dosage and gradually wean off. I personally have not treated anyone with 5-htp for prolonged continuous periods. I often recommend taking frequent breaks from 5-htp use.

I have been taking 50-300mg of 5-HTP for about 2 months at bedtime to help my sleep and depression. It definitely improved my mood but I still felt tired and achy so I added 5 mg of NADH first thing in the morning to my regime for one week so far. I've had a few serious bouts of depression after adding the NADH but a lot more energy. I find it's better if I alternate between the two. Also, I've become very constipated after taking the 5-HTP. Reading your website, and from experience of reducing the amount and consistency of 5-HTP, the grogginess is less. For your info, I found that taking 5-HTP actually increased my libido but that I've already become tolerant to that benefit. I find 5-HTP relaxes me and reduces my negative thinking greatly. Reading your website, I'm pretty amazed at some of the horrific negative affects it has had on some people.

After being severely depressed for twenty years, I took Lexapro, and then, when I realized that prescription was only helping me to a point, I tried Prozac for a year and a half (and of course gained an unwelcome amount of weight with both). Usually, the medication worked well, but for an instant - every time I walked past a mirror and saw this fat woman standing where I should have been - my depression returned. Of course, I needed an anti-depressant but certainly not one that would cause me to be depressed whenever I happened on my reflection. I thought 5-HTP was just a catchy name of a product that wasn't going to help me in the least. But I was desperate to find something that wouldn't spring a side-effect on me that was almost as uncomfortable as the condition I originally set out to cure...and my God, 5-HTP still hasn't surprised me with any adverse reaction that ALSO has to be treated by medication. I take 5-HTP 100 milligrams in the morning and 100 just before dinner. My panic attacks and rollercoaster emotions are at bay, I'm beginning to see myself in a more positive manner, appreciate and not be suspicious of others, have the sensitivity and patience to be a good owner of a pet, have more physical and mental energy, and (good-bye Ambien), my, my, my...I quickly go to a restive sleep (that hasn't happened in years!). A couple of weeks ago, my claustrophobia and vertigo (friends of mine for most of my life) vanished! And to top it all off, I'm starting to lose weight. So far, I believe I've lost about five pounds but - and I'm not worrying - I like what I see in the mirror: an overweight woman who happens to be very happy and very pretty.

Just wanted to say thanks for the great info on your web site! I was looking for info on 5-HTP, as I have been on 50mgs before bed each night for almost a week now with pretty good results for my depression, anxiety, and ADD. However, I have been experiencing some of the 5-HTP side effects noted on your web page. Headaches, bizarre dreams, and stomach problems, which is the worst of the effects. The last two days I have been experiencing heavy fatigue and sleepiness early in the day, so I thought I would see what kind of information I could find about 5-HTP. It has definitely helped my mood problems and I have had literally no anxiety, which is a great thing! However, the 5-HTP side effects are too much and I have thought about trying Sam-e again.

I started taking 5 htp about 3 weeks ago now -1 75mg tab a day. At first I took it in the morning (recently I've taken it in the afternoon). I think it took a week at least to show any effects. The first time I really noticed something it was an "ecstasy" like effect extremely elevated mood and palms of hands feeling soft. That night I felt very wired, couldn't sleep because I felt like laughing! Now in my 4th week of 75mg 5-htp a day, I don't feel happy, just sluggish during the day, and I don't know if its related but i've got a bad eczema case around my mouth. What should I do? I think I'll just quit. How on earth could anyone take 300 mg doses like the guy whose written the book on it suggests? Sleeping is good i'll say that much-but you cant operate feeling this tired all day. God i feel so let down by it.

I have suffered with Chronic Insomnia for 13 years and have been taking Ambien to gain "regular" sleep. I HATE taking prescriptions, but when you are tired and miserable for 13 years, you will do anything to get a good night’s rest! I recently tried 5-HTP for 4 days and though I did not see instant results, after the third night I found that I was obtaining better sleep. I still woke up several times throughout the evening, but I was able to fall back to sleep without much trouble. That, in and of itself, is a miracle. I did, however; find that I was getting rather bad headaches, and stomach cramps. I would love to continue taking the 5-HTP because of the positive changes I felt in my sleep, mood, alertness, and overall sense of well being…but not if my stomach is going to feel like it’s about to explode! I only took 50mg. per evening and thought perhaps taking a smaller dose could be a better way to go. I looked and have not been able to find it in smaller doses. Thank you for the information you have provided on 5-HTP. It has been very valuable to me. I appreciate your un-biased articles and the information you provided from others who have tried 5-HTP.

Q. Can 5 htp be given to children?
A. 5-HTP has not adequately been studied in children, hence it is difficult to make recommendations. If used at all, it is probably best that 5-HTP be done under medical supervision and only for brief periods.

Thank you for your posting people's experiences with 5-htp. It is very helpful because my health care professional only knows about drugs. I am using 5-HTP for anxiety/depression. My psychologist wanted me to take Paxil, but I was referred to 5 htp by a clerk at our local health food store. After taking 100 mg before bed for several days, I felt normal. I could laugh again and have hope. I've been depressed since February. I felt so good that I thought I was "cured" and stopped taking 5-HTP when the bottle ran out. The anxiety and depression came back within a week and seemed worse than before. So, I started taking 50 mg at each meal and one at bedtime. The only side effect I have is loose bowels and some stomach cramps in the middle of the night. After one week of that regime, I was back to normal and cut 5-HTP down to one 50 mg in the morning and one at night. I sleep real well and have peace of mind which is wonderful.

Q. Will 5 HTP make you feel the same way every day? For example the first time I took 50 mg. I felt very up, happy, energetic even the second time I felt the same way but the next time I took it I felt a little anxious and had a little headache so I decided to take only 25 mg. the next day and all it did was make me very irritable and tired... but I can say it has restored very deep sleep which I have been needing for a long time...I'm just wondering what kind of effect it is suppose to have on a person... does what you eat make the 5 htp react differently day to day?
     A. One of the weaknesses of 5-HTP is that it may, in many individuals, not have a consistent effect. This may depend on the time of day the 5-HTP is taken, with or without food, other supplements taken at the same time, the alertness level of the individual taking the 5-HTP, the dosage, etc.

A couple months ago I began using 5HTP as a sleep aid at night. I believe I was using about 100 to 150 mg. a night. I also used some Tyrosine during the day. After about a month or so after use I began experiencing hallucinatory-like effects. They weren't true hallucinations at all, but very vivid and nightmarish images. As soon as I stopped the 5-HTP the images ceased completely. The whole ordeal was quite disturbing.

Q. I've read on the web that excessive serotonin level in the blood stream due to conversion of 5-HTP to serotonin can cause damage to heart valves. That fact stopped me from taking 5-HTP for a while, but recently I have changed my mind. I figure if people in Europe have been taking 5-HTP for years a strong connection between heart damage and 5-HTP use would've been spotted by now. I just wanted to know your opinion on that matter.
     A. I still don't have an opinion on this issue, I have not seen any studies or reports regarding the use of 5-HTP and influence, if any, on heart valves.

I really want to thank you for writing the book on 5-HTP. By reading it I was able to get a sense of where to start my dosage, how many days of the week to skip, what to expect, etc. I also really appreciate how you share your personal journal with us, and also that the client stories were unbiased, as those people who did not have a good experience with it are represented as well. I have recommended it to a few friends who have been taking 5-HTP without any real supervision, or knowledge, and I hope that it will help them to see that we really are, in many ways, lab experiments. So far, so good. Sleep is getting deeper. Only side effect is loose stools and stomach upset the morning after I take 5-HTP. Hopefully it will pass.

Thank you for your 5-HTP web site and your cautious approach. I wish I could make an appointment with you but I live in Ontario, Canada! I am currently trying to get off Paxil (with my psychiatrist's recommendation) of which I was taking 20 mg a day for stress related insomnia. It has been absolutely awful--I have felt infinitely worse than when I went on it. I have been experiencing extreme anxiety, rage and depression--and all this from going down to 10mg over about 3 months. I hear that this is not uncommon; my doctor has had all of his patients trying to get off Paxil -- except me -- go back on it because they were not able to bear the withdrawal. (He agrees that these are genuine withdrawal symptoms and not relapses into depression.) Since I have been so desperate, I began taking 5-HTP (100mg a day) without knowing much about it, which I now realize is not a good idea. The problem is, it helps with the withdrawal tremendously. I'm sleeping far better and am much happier and calmer. At first I thought that perhaps the withdrawal symptoms were simply subsiding, but when I stopped taking the supplement, about a week later they came back. On your 5-HTP web site, and on a Paxil withdrawal web site, it is recommended not to take both together, but it is very difficult for me to even consider going back to the place I was. I don't really want to talk to my psychiatrist about it as he reacts extremely negatively to any "alternative" therapy.

I have taken about 175mg of 5-htp daily for over 2 years. At first I felt much better, but then fell into a depressive like state. I stopped taking it and thought I was better but then fell into a lower state. I believe you mentioned stopping taking it at intervals. Perhaps my 5-HTP dosage was too high or too often for me.

Your web site is the best I've seen on 5-htp and I'm going to see if my library has your book. I've been considering 5-htp to treat depression. Now that I know that the production of serotonin is predicated on a diet containing L-tryptophan, I'm wondering if adopting a vegetarian diet could have an adverse effect on serotonin production. I've been depressed for as long as I've been a vegetarian, and for the past few months I've been wondering if this is no mere coincidence. I would say I only eat a "good" vegetarian diet 3-4 days a week at best, and then, usually on the weekends, it's pizza, eggs, coffee, the occasional burrito, and often skipped meals.
     From self-analysis and visits to psychotherapists I have become confident that there are definitely other, perhaps more primary, causes for my depression, possibly including a past history of somewhat excessive MDMA use. The interesting thing about this detail is its chronology - I chose to go vegetarian when I decided to basically give up using E and adopt a healthier lifestyle. Although the diet is great for the avoidance of other ailments, perhaps I adopted it at a time when I needed the L-tryptophan from fish, fowl and meat the most.
     Even if they never used MDMA, perhaps 5-htp could be a great nutritional supplement for depressed vegetarians who sometimes don't always get all the essential amino acids from their diet. Based on your continued recommendations of moderation I plan to try 5-HTP 50mg 5-6 days a week for a month.

From what I understand and witnessed, for many people when they get depressed, they become overweight and have an increased appetite. In others, perhaps more in cases of higher levels of anxiety, they develop mild to severe anorexia. I believe that 5-HTP or a SSRI may help to balance out this depression and anxiety, so for some people it may lower weight, and for others who are depressed and somewhat anorexic, there may actually be a potential to gain weight. While I'm only now discovering 5-HTP and have mostly recovered from my generalized anxiety and anorexia that I had before (I've gained about 45 lbs since the point I was reasonably anorexic), I still find that even now 5-HTP helps to stimulate and maintain a healthy appetite. I wouldn't want to see the potential disinformation spreading around that 5-HTP will always cause people to lose their appetite, or to insinuate that a depressed person with anorexic symptoms will lose more weight by taking 5-HTP. I think much more research needs to be done in this area, and in 5-HTP in general.

I took 5-htp for several months with no side effects. Then only took 5-HTP occasionally at night (it took me months though to connect the two events). I started having this terrible problem of being awakened in the middle of the night with almost projectile emesis which would then result in horrible esophageal spasms and then diarrhea. I really didn't realize there was connection except thought maybe taking 5-HTP pills late, they would stick in my throat and cause some reaction. Then one day I took a 5htp at 11:00 AM and had the same reaction. I threw away the rest of the bottle.

I have been giving my 8-year old son 5-HTP for the past year. For me 5-HTP was preferable to the PROZAC that the physician wanted to prescribe. For the first 6 months I gave him 50 mg of 5-HTP daily with his evening meal. There was a noticeable improvement in his behavior within 2 weeks. For the past 6 months I have given him 25 mg of 5-HTP combined with several other natural stress relieving herbs (i.e. Kava Kava, St. John's Wort) with his morning meal. My son’s mood improved again and he is happier and more content than he has every been.
     My son has reacted very positively to the 5HTP. He was severely depressed, had low self-esteem and was extremely aggressive. He was hitting his school mates daily and had no friends. After 1 month on the 5-HTP he has not hit a kid since. One year later he now has a couple of friends, he is generally happy all the time and we are able to reason with him.

I've been taking 5- HTP since August of this year (50 mg) every other day at bedtime for 2 months. then I stopped taking 5-HTP for 1 month as directed on your website. It's the only thing that I've found that works for me for my bi-polar. I went on ginkgo for the month that I was off the 5- HTP towards the end of the month I was starting to get down again, so I immediately went back to the 5- HTP, and now I feel good again. I was taking antidepressants from my psychiatrist without any luck. He wanted me to go on lithium, but I heard too many bad things about it, so I never took it. I also have been exercising and trying to have a positive outlook on life, whereas before, I didn't. I believe that it's due to the 5-HTP. Thank you so much for the info on it.

Dear Dr. Sahelian, when I came across your 5-HTP book, it's as if I found a gold mine. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and I was weaned myself off Zoloft which I have been taking for the past 3 years. The very first day that I took 5-HTP, I managed to get out of bed and function normally after being in bed for almost 10 days. I have also been suffering from anxiety disorder. I'm only 32 years old and I've had my share of different types of antidepressants. Since I started 5-HTP my severe migraines have disappeared and I only started taking it 10 days ago. I can't believe I finally found something that will help my symptoms. Keep up your great work and God bless you and may He grant you health and strength to continue helping people.

I am a 24 year-old, 240 lb. male. I had been taking 50 mg of 5-HTP, before bedtime during the week, with weekends off for 3 weeks. I woke up far more readily (I have always had a problem oversleeping) feeling refreshed, which was terrific. However, in the evening on the weekends I would get headaches about the time I would normally have taken the 5-HTP. Three or four days after I stopped using the 5-HTP entirely, the headaches went away.

I suffer from panic, anxiety and depression. I have been off of SSRI's for a year now and in my search for something less dangerous, you have educated me on 5-htp. Last night I took my first 5-HTP dose of 50mg at about 10:30pm, I did not fall asleep until about 3am - and had vivid harmful 'scary' thoughts & I felt quite alert. Needless to say I have the feeling wired- jitters today.

I cannot thank you enough for writing the book "5-HTP Nature's Serotonin Solution." My mother picked up the book, as she is more interested in herbal remedies than chemical ones, and I now understand why.
     I was prescribed 75mg of Effexor XR for depression back in November 2000 (for Seasonal Affective Disorder). I am not sure if you are aware of the horrible side effects associated both with being on this drug and especially with coming off this drug. Just to briefly brief you, some of the side effects are: irritability, depression, mood swings, somnolence, tremor, dizziness, vertigo, "zaps" in the brain, auditory and visual hallucinations, anxiety, nightmares, changes in eyesight (all listed on the Wyeth-Ayerst webpage).
     I went through this withdrawal, I put myself on the 5-HTP (Prozac made me manic, and my mother was so worried about me). Within 48 hours ALL of the side effects I had experienced with the Effexor XR withdrawal were GONE! It was amazing! I have a decreased appetite, increased energy, no depression, I am finally the mother and the wife that I should be, and that my daughter has the right to have.
     I am telling you this in case you are interested in maybe starting up a study on the effects the 5-HTP has on people coming off of Effexor and Effexor XR. There are many webpages out there telling hundreds and thousands of stories about people who are unnecessarily suffering from withdrawal from this horrible drug. They need help. I am trying to help them. I am recommending both the herbal and your 5-HTP book to help them.
     I think the 5-HTP word needs to be spread, and it would be nice if you could look into this. I am not an M.D. I am obviously not qualified to give people medical advice, but if 5-HTP can help people coming off of other drugs, they need to know the option is out there!
Thank you for listening, thank you for writing your 5-HTP book!!

Dr. Sahelian, I would like to thank you for your website about 5-htp. I am 42 yrs old and have suffered the effects of severe anxiety and depression for 22 years. Like so many other sufferers, I sought psychiatrist after psychiatrist looking for help through the years, but all these doctors did was dig into my childhood telling me what an imperfect childhood I had (so who has an absolutely perfect childhood???) I tried many anti-depressants but couldn't tolerate most of them and the ones I could were of no benefit and had uncomfortable side effects. I stopped looking to doctors for help because I knew that what was wrong with me had absolutely nothing to do with my childhood and had everything to do with what was going on in my brain. Through the years, one sibling after another fell prey to serotonin imbalance-related disorders until it became more than obvious that we had inherited brain chemistry problems and my mother informed us who the ancestors in her family were who had moods disorders. There were more than a few.
     Because my condition was left so long improperly treated, I became worse and worse until I was unable to work (or even think with any clarity whatsoever, or even be able to concentrate long enough to read 4 sentences in a book). I was in extreme emotional and mental pain, not to mention the severe financial devastation that took place over the years from not being able to work. But that wasn't the worst of it. I couldn't bring myself to drum up any hope whatsoever in again looking for help because of my extreme fear of doctors which developed partly because of my experiences with them and partly because of the severity of my irrational fears which had worsened through the years without treatment. I was alone, isolated, desperate, hopeless, terrified, helpless, emotionally abused by some family members because of my inability to get help, and most definitely would have committed suicide had it not been for my exaggerated fear of death. Then, this past January, I found your website about 5-htp which caused me to research it thoroughly.
     I was hanging on by the thinnest shred of hope. I had had nothing but treatment failure for over twenty years full of doctors who never even properly diagnosed me and who, in fact, made me much worse digging up my childhood telling me how my parent's childrearing was to blame for my incapacitations (as if that kind of knowledge, even if it were true, was really going to resolve my depression !!!!)
     Initially, 5-htp gave me an extremely comforting sense of relaxation that was worth more than all the money in the world considering what I had been through for 22 years. After several weeks, this extreme relaxation started to wane and I was tempted to give up on 5-HTP, but something told me to keep going, even though I was still left with all the other horrible symptoms of severe anxiety and depression. After another month, I started to notice several of my many anxiety and depression symptoms starting to reduce ever so slightly. Even though it was extremely slow, every one of my symptoms continued to reduce and I actually started to feel that it was possible that 5-htp could possibly cause me to completely recover from my horrible nightmare.
     I started in January and here I am in early May almost completely recovered from severe Social Anxiety Disorder, severe Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and severe Depression. Even though not quite 100%, I feel like a brand new person. I'm much more comfortable around people now, my concentration and absorption levels continue to improve, my sleep is better, my mood is far more stable and upbeat now, I smile a heck of a lot more, many horrible aches and pains and muscle tensions have disappeared, my breathing is better, my fears have greatly reduced, my anger and confusion has almost completely disappeared, I have control over my thoughts now, I have absolutely no more panic attacks, and my future looks very bright. 5-htp brought me out of the horrific and desperate depths of hell into a brand new life. This tremendous gift of a new healthy life I received from taking only 50 mg 5-HTP every other day, occasionally every day. That's a very low dose considering how sick and incapacitated I was. I had started out on a much higher 5-HTP dose but realized it was exacerbating some of my anxiety symptoms, so I dropped it to 50 mg every other day.
     Please let others know that sometimes, it does take a long time to get good results from 5-htp. All I know is I wasn't getting the results I am now the first month or two and I think people should be aware that for some of us, it takes a long time.
     Thank you, thank you, thank you to you and other smart docs who are not ignoring the success of supplements that the rest of the medical community seems bent on ignoring. Thank you for informing the public about important supplements such as 5-htp. You and 5-htp literally saved my life from utter torment. A MILLION TIMES thank you !!!!!!!!!

I wanted to write an email to the woman who suffered with anxiety for 22 years. My heart goes out to her a thousand times. I have been suffering from horrible anxiety for the past year and a half. None of the medications that I have tried have helped me. I am incredibly sensitive to them and they usually make me feel worse after about a month. I wanted to know how she is doing now and just tell her that she must be the strongest person ever to have lived through that. I am so incredibly grateful for discovering 5-HTP because I don't think I could take this much longer. I cannot even fathom living with this for 22 years. My heart goes out to you!!!!!

For 2 years, I struggled with fatigue which was more a "mental" fatigue than a physical fatigue. I changed diet, changed work, did more exercise etc. But after doing all of this, I still had periods of extreme fatigue (lack of concentration) where I had to stop working. My doctor suggested to take anti-depression drugs even if I was not feeling depressed, to try it since I had tried a lot of different stuff that didn't really work. I took Zoloft for 4 days with a lot of side effects. I decided to switch to a natural product. A naturopath suggested 5-HTP. After 4 days of taking 5-HTP, I was almost back to normal. Concentration was back, I was feeling great. I am in my 5th week of taking 5-HTP were I took 100mg daily for 3 weeks and now I am taking 70 mg 5-HTP and phasing out gradually.
     The first day I took it, I had wild dreams. I was taking all the 5-HTP dose at night and found that waking up in the morning was more difficult than usual. I decided to spread the 5-HTP dose during the day. I never experience any drowsiness. And I found that my appetite did increase! I was hoping to be able to lose a pound our two but I gained them instead! Anyway, I must say that 5-HTP "saved" my life. I am now feeling well. I can work normally. Your book did help me a lot understanding how 5-HTP works and how it could help me.

Hello! I came across information about 5-htp last week when I was researching the links between carbohydrate and nicotine addiction. I discovered a web site that emphasized a deficiency in serotonin as being a major cause for depression, addiction, insomnia and a variety of impulsive and compulsive behaviors. I felt as though it described me to a tee! This article also mentioned that a low level of serotonin may be linked to a traumatic childhood experience, which I found to be very interesting. It offered 5-htp as a solution and I began taking 50 mg before bedtime 4 days ago.
     I think that many people are looking for a "quick fix" for depression or anxiety without making a consorted effort for a serious lifestyle change. It seems that many people jump from remedy to remedy and therapist to therapist hoping to find that which will cure them of all that makes them "abnormal."
     In my situation, I practice yoga, I have seen a therapist, I try to exercise regularly, I write a lot and I try to maintain a healthy diet, but it seems that no matter what I do, I have an incessant urge to smoke and to binge on carbohydrates and these urges become very difficult for me to fight off. Fortunately, I am not overweight and I suffer from bouts of depression where I usually end up in a period of positive re-evaluation. Depression helps me look a little deeper and I learn from that, although I realize for many people it is difficult, if not impossible to snap out of a depression without chemical assistance.
     The bottom line is this- I am looking to continue along the path of trying to lead a healthy lifestyle, and I hope to integrate 5-htp into my life in order to supplement what I believe to be biological deficiencies and help curb my addictive behavior. I am not looking for a quick fix- there is hard work involved with fighting these demons and it is a battle to live a "natural life" in an "unnatural world"- it is a process of finding balance.
     I like your philosophy and I like your style- you are informative and helpful without preaching or self-promotion and that is unique in the field of alternative medicine. I have ordered your books and I look forward to reading them.

I took 100 mg of 5-HTP for a month to help me sleep. Then, I had what appeared to be gall bladder attacks. A scan the week I was sickest showed that my gall bladder was functioning at only 4%. I stopped taking the 5-HTP and haven't had an attack for two weeks.

I am using 5-HTP. I read your book 'Mind Boosters' and have to admit 5-HTP does help with my low moods. I'm still skeptical. Over the last few years I've become tired of antidepressants having tried quite a few including SSRIs and MAO's and even St. John's Wort, none of which were effective in the long term.

I’m a forty year-old male and have suffered from depression for most of my adult life and found Paxil a godsend when prescribed to me in 1994. My dosage on Paxil was 30 mg per day. I was extremely relieved to be rid of depression and found the side effect negligible however I did gain weight (from 225 to 286) during this time and remained single with out much drive or libido.
     Early in 2000 my sleep began to degenerate with frequent wakings throughout the night and began to notice how dead inside I felt. By early summer I had researched alternatives and decided to try 5-htp. On July 1st I slowly weaned myself off Paxil over a two-week period and began taking 5-htp at 50mg twice per day. Let me say this was a rollercoaster ride and I may have started the 5-htp too soon but was experiencing great anxiety and depression. It took about a month to determine my dosage of 5-HTP 100mg three times daily. My sleep improved dramatically. I have since lost 32 lbs and have started dating actively again after five years. I feel much
more alive and though not completely rid of my depression it does appear to be bearable. I came across your 5-HTP site because I am once again researching this supplement because my depression seems to be creeping back.

I am 32 and have suffered from depression, bulimia, and chemical addiction since my teen years. I have tried almost all antidepressants of which have all have had little to no affect on me except for Wellbutrin. I am taking between 300-450mg qd currently and am also taking Trazadone 100mg qHS. I am battling alcoholism which has become much worse in the last 2 years. I am 20 days sober. I started taking 5-htp 15 days ago with amazing results, but have had to take enormous amounts to even touch on the anxiety (300-400 mg of 5-htp qd). 5-HTP has been a savior for me and also has helped in controlling my bulimia. I have more patience, and am less compulsive. However, I fear that the 5-HTP dosage is too high. I have not had any side effects. I have always had a high tolerance to medications. This is really the only thing that has worked for my intense alcohol cravings! Also, I am worried because I am starting treatment and my counselor wishes for me to absolutely NOT take 5-htp. I finally feel a glimmer of hope to get me through the awful cravings that chemical addiction brings, the awful behaviors associated with bulimia and obsessive compulsive disorder, and the feelings associated with major depression.

I have been taking 5-htp for weight loss, and the results so far are amazing. My cravings for sugar have disappeared, and I am able to easily make healthier food choices. In fact, I have to make sure I am getting enough calories each day, as the first time I took a 50mg 5-HTP capsule in the morning, I found that by 5 pm, I had only eaten about 200 calories that day.

I started taking 100mg of 5-HTP at night, 10 days ago, for depression. For the first 5 days or so I felt fine. But now, about an hour after drinking 12ozs of coffee in the morning, I get moderately dizzy & remain so for half the day. Making it very hard to do anything.

So thrilled to have come across 5-HTP as I have suffered from intense carb cravings all of my life and the side effect of wt. gain and extreme dieting. Every single person in my family has some sort of addiction. - sugar, alcohol, drugs. It seems serotonin deficiency could be an inherited problem with me. With just one dose of 50mg of 5-HTP, I immediately felt the results of relief the next day. I felt uplifted, happy and no cravings.

In my experience, taking as little as 5 mg of 5-HTP removes mild depression outright (I had previously been severely depressed for years), while taking even 25 mg of 5-HTP is unpleasantly energizing, and almost made me give up on 5-HTP, which would have been a mistake. Nowadays, I take 5 mg 5-HTP only when I feel slightly depressed, and the feeling goes away in less than an hour, not to return for days or weeks. The serotonin balance in some brains is very delicate, and large sudden changes in it can be disorienting.

Q. Are there any cautions regarding the combination of Prozac and 5-HTP?
     A. 5-HTP is an over the counter nutrient that converts into serotonin, one of the brain chemicals involved in mood. The use of 5-HTP in combination with SSRIs such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, and others has not been formally evaluated. Anecdotal reports indicate that many people tolerate small amount of 5-HTP, for instance 25 mg or less, with small amounts of SSRIs when used under the guidance of a medical professional. Most capsules of 5-HTP come in 50 and 100 mg. The effects of taking 5-HTP along with a pharmaceutical antidepressant are sometimes difficult to predict. Since the SSRIs, like Prozac, block serotonin reuptake, and 5-HTP converts into serotonin, it is possible that dangerously high levels of serotonin could occur when high doses 5-HTP and SSRIs are combined, a condition called serotonin syndrome. It is possible that adding small amounts of 5-HTP may reduce the dosage requirement of SSRIs.

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